Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies
Guwahati/Imphal, August 14 2010:
Massive security arrangements have been made across North East states to ensure peaceful Independence Day celebrations on Sunday as the region prepares to participate in the festivities under a boycott call by militant outfits.
In Manipur the main function of the independence Day celebration will be held at the parade ground of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh will unfurl the tri-colour.
Preparations have also been made to celebrate the occasion at the district and sub-divisional headquarters of the State.
To ensure smooth celebration of the independence Day stringent security measures have been put in place especially in and around the
capital city.
Apart from deployment of security personnel at strategic locations of the capital, intense patrolling and friskings are underway.
Despite this, two bombs were recovered from Kwakeithel today evening.
Independence Day has been boycotted in the past years too with many armed groups calling for its boycott and this year is no exception.
Four militant outfits of the region � United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF) � along with Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), an umbrella group of several Manipuri rebel groups, have given a joint call for boycott of August 15 celebrations.
They have also called for a general strike from 1.30 am to 6.30 pm on Sunday.
In Assam, security forces deployment at all vital installations and public places has been heightened.
A security cordon has been thrown over all official Independence Day celebration grounds across the state, including at Latasil playground at Guwahati where the central function will take place.
Explosives are being seized by security personnel in intensified checking at various locations across the state since the past weeks.
Night running of passenger-carrying trains has been suspended from 6 pm of Saturday till 5 am of August 17 .
Security has been beefed up in Tripura and vigil intensified along the India-Bangladesh border.
Additional security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas and security was intensified along National Highway-44, state highways, vital installations, bus terminus, airport and marketplaces.
Policemen in civilian clothes have also been deputed to monitor any suspicious movements.
In Meghalaya too, security arrangements have been intensified in the wake of a boycott call by the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Vigilance has also increased along the international border with Bangladesh to check cross-border movement of miscreants and militants as also on the national highways.
Security alert has been sounded in Manipur and Nagaland also to ensure peaceful Independence Day celebrations.
Special security arrangements have been made in the states in the run up to the national day celebrations.
Relatively-peaceful Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are also on alert for Sunday's celebrations.




